Reportage – 2006

Love and compassion attracts, hatred and anger repels: Dalai Lama

TOKYO, Japan, 10 November 2006 — Love and compassion are the key to health and happiness, the Dalai Lama said in a talk he termed 'Secular values'.

"Love and compassion lead to good health, attract more friends and bring more wealth" he told an audience of several thousand people in Kokugikan auditorium in Tokyo.

He said love and compassion are two important elements that all human beings should adopt. He stressed that whether one is a believer in a faith or not, these are foundations for a better life for the entire world.

Due to negligence and mistakes in the past century, the 20th century was a century of war and bloodshed. The issue of terrorism and the rise of Al-Qaeda in today's world are all due to same reasons. "The 21st century should be made into a century of dialogue for all the differences and conflicts."

He praised Costa Rica for abolishing the armed forces, and France and Germany for a unified force. "These are existing examples for a better world."

Eventually Japan and China should enter into dialogue and abolish all tensions and differences between the two countries for peace in the region.

He also appealed for abolition of nuclear weapons in the world. "Japan should lead in the disarmament of nuclear weapons. It is the most relevant country to lead such a movement."